Dispensing and measuring gasoline or the like



C. P. LENT March 2, 1937.

DISPENSING AND MEASURING GASOLINE 0R THE LIKE4 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 16, 1935 INVENTOR.

Cas E25/V7.'

ATIORNEY.

March 2, 1937. C LENT 2,072,522 l DISPENSINGAND MEASURING GASOLINE OR THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1955 4 Sheets-5.119611' 2 INYENTOR. 05 F? 5A/7."

ATTORNEY.

C. P. LENT March 2, 1937.

DISPENSING AND MEASURING GASLINE OR THE LIKE 4 shams-ShamA :s

Filed May 16, 1935 ATTORNEY.

aum-Ew C. P. LENT Mrch 2, 1937.

DISPENSING AND MEASURING GASOLINE OR THE LIKE Filed May 1e, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. as 9W- ATTORNEY III G. '11.

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE l DISPENSING AND MEASURING GASOLINE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing and measuring gasoline or the like.

By means of a novel arrangement including indicating mechanisms and a pump operated by an electric motor, an attendant is enabled to deliver gasoline or the like in measured quantity into the tank of an automobile or the like, by simply removing the delivery nozzle from its normal hooked position and placing it into the ller lo opening of the tank aforesaid and then opening the nozzle valve.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a stationary apparatus ior measuring the gasoline outow with the elimination of al1 l operating parts exterior to the shell or walls of said apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to employ a system of indicating dials of comparatively simple construction that will perform their indicating functions in accord with the flow of gasoline or the like through said apparatus and will afterward restore themselves to a zero setting in readiness for the next outflow of supply of gasoline from the apparatus aforesaid.

This and other objects will appear in the consideration of this specification and the drawings which accompany the same in which- Fig. 1 is a front cross-section view of the indicating and dispensing apparatus including an electric motor, a pump operated therefrom, connecting pipes, a measuring meter, indicator .dials and the delivery nozzle.

Fig. 2 is an exterior front View of the measuring .dial proper.

Fig. 3 is a partial exterior side view of the measuring and dispensing apparatus showing the measuring meter in further detail.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the indicating dials, operating mechanisms in connection therewith; also illustrating the operating means for restoring the indicating dials to their zero position.

Fig. 4a is a detail showing the relative position of the lower arm portion 'I8 with reference to the lever extension 86.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the apparatus taken on a line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view .detailing the mechanism involved in actuating the indicating dials.

Fig. 6a is a view similar to Fig. 4a, showing the position of the lower arm portion 'I8 relative toI the lever extension 86.

Fig. 'l is a sectional View taken on a line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing particularly the automatic setting cylinder and the position of the operating piston that corresponds to the zero reading position on the measuring dial.

Fig. 9 is a detail View of the zero restoring shaft at a position corresponding to the reading of the dial at any instant of time during the period of delivery of the gasoline or the like through the dispensing apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view including the delivery nozzle showing the switching connection relation of said nozzle with the electric motor I9.

Fig. 1l is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 10 except that the nozzle 34 is in a position in readiness to deliver gasoline into a gasoline tank.

Referring to the drawings, the gasoline dispensing and indicating device shown in Fig. 1 consists of an outer shell or wall lll which is securely held together by means of cross members II, I2 and I3. The bottom section of the shell I6 rests on a base casting I4. The upper section of the shell is covered by means of a cover plate I5.

A measuring meter I6 is secured to the cross member II. The top section I'I of the meter i6 protrudes through an opening I8 of the cross member II.

An electric motor I9 is secured to the cross member I2. 20 through the medium of flexible coupling 2i. The pump draws up the gasoline from a tank not shown which is connected to said pump through the supply pipe 2li.

The pump 20 forces the gasoline to flow through the connecting pipes 22, 23 and 24, and from thence to the measuring meter I6. The said meter is connected through the medium of shaft 25, coupling 63 and shaft 26 to a set of dials 21, 28, and 29. described hereinafter.

A measured quantity of gasoline or the like iiows from the meter I 6 through the pipes 3B and 3l to the visible glass cylinder 32 and from thence through the ilexible hose 33 to the delivery nozzle 34.

Electric current supply is connected to the motor I9 through wire conductors in conduit 35 and said motor is operated in a similar manner to that described in my Patent No. 1,978,753 patented Oct. 30, 1934. The present application is subject to the aforesaid patent. The electric motor, however may be operated automatically or mechanically by means other than that described in the patent aforesaid.

The said motor operates the pump u The operation of these dials will be reading Vpreferably O, .1/4,

merals aforesaid are observable at either side of the apparatus.

The delivery nozzle 34 when not in use is placed on the hook 49 as shown in Fig. 1.

The numeral 39a is a stationary pointer that is observable through the opening 36.

Referring to Fig. 4, the gallon reading dial-21 is made up of a flat ring 43a upon which graduated markings are affixed thereon and in which in this case the said markings are indicated from to gallons for each half of the dial.

As already stated the indications are observable at both sides of the apparatus. The ring 49a and the side member 4 I, (Fig. 4), are loosely mounted to the driving shaft 42 through the bushing 43.

Mounted at the left of the bushing 43 is a gear Wheel 44 which engages a geared rack bar 45. There isalso mounted on the bushing 43 a gear 46'which engages the pinion gear 41. The gear 41 is attached to the shaft 43 that turns in a bearing 49 of the casting 59. The shaft 43 also carries the gear 5I which engages with the driving gear 52, the latter gear being rigidly attached Ato the driving shaft 52. The numerals 21a and 21h are stops for the gallon reading dial guiding the same to the zero or restoring position. (See Fig.

The fractional gallon reading dials 23 and 29 are provided for the front and for the rear of the delivery apparatus. The dials consist substantially of flat rings upon which the markings are affixed, :r1/2n H13/4H yof al gallon. In addition to the foregoing a supporting side member 54 is provided. The dials 28 and 29 are rigidly attached to the driving shaft 42 through the medium of the bushings '55 and 53.

The driving shaft 42 turns on a pair of roller bearings Y51 which are held into the side lugs 58 and 59 of the casting 60. A bore 6| at the bottom of the casting 69 has a bushing '62 into which the shaft .25 of the measuring meter |6 projects. The shaft is secured to a flexible coupling 63 by means of a pin 65. A driving pinion -66 is rigidly connected to the shaft 26 which turns in a bushing 61 that is held in a bearing 68 of the casting 6U.

The pinion 66 drives a bevel gear 69 which turns loosely on the shaft 42. A toothed coupling 13, (see Fig. 6) has one section thereof 19a secured to the bevel gear :69 by means of the screws 1|. The opposite section 12 ofthe coupling 10 is slidably mounted on the shaft `42.

The coupling member 12 is provided with an extension section 13 having a circular disposed groove 14. The said coupling member is held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by means ofthe `pressure of the spring 12a.

Circular pins 15 and 16 are riveted to the arms 11 and 18 respectively. The latter pins move slidably inthe groove 14, (Fig. 4). The lower portion of the arms aforesaid designated as 11 and 'i8 are lpivoted to a shaft 19, the latter being -held in a l surface for the lever extension 86 that is slidably held on the lever '92 by means ofthe screws 32a (see Fig. 4). The extension 'B6 is provided with notched legs 81 and 88. The said lever extension is held in downward resilient tension through the medium of the flat spring 86a. The lever extension 83 is also provided with a slot 89 into which is fitted a lifting arm 99 to which is joined a connecting rod |42 at the joint bearing 93, (see Fig. 6).

An extension section 95 of the lever arm 92 swings on the shaft 19, said extension arm being provided with a circular hollowed section a that supports a spiral spring 96 which holds arm 95 and section 92 thereof substantiallylin the position shown in Fig. 6.Y

Referring to Fig. 8. In the latter figure is Vshown the pressure cylinder 9i the function of which is to restore the indicating dials to their Zero resting positions. The upper section of the cylinder 91 is secured in a casting 93. The lower section of said cylinder is sealed by means of a threaded bushing 99 to which a pipe fitting |90 is connected. The cylinder is provided with a piston II made up of a series of rings III, H2 and I I3, the functions of which is to maintain to a tight t aleather bushing I I4 or the like against the walls of the cylinder 91. The aforesaid rings are held together on the shaft i5 by the tightening of the nut H6 upon the shaft aforesaid. An extended section. I i1 of the shaft H5 projects through a stuffing box I I9 which is integral to the casting 33. A threaded cup |23 serves to Vcompress the stuffing material into the opening 52E of that portion of the casting 98 designated by the numeral I i9 thus maintaining a tight seat. On each side of the casting 98 threaded pipe nttings |22 and |23 are provided.

The upper section of the shaft H1 has an enlarged joint member |24 attached to it, `the latter Ahaving a circular groove 25. A shaft |23 is slidably mounted inside the groove |25.

The shaft |23 is substantially held against the shaft |I1 by means'of the tension of the coiled spring |21 which is secured to the bushing |25 by means of the pin |23, and is further held to the shaft f2.6 by means of the pin |29, (see Fig. 9).

As already stated, the narrow geared rack is secured to the shaft |22. (See Fig. 9.) be observed in Fig. 8 a-section of the shaft v| I1 below the enlarged joint member |24 is threaded. A tapered block |39 is held in position on the shaft I|1 by means of the lock nuts |3| and |32. A

bracket arm |33, (see Fig. 4) is secured to the casting 98 by means of the screw |34. A lever |35 'is pivotally mounted on the bracket |33 at the.

pivot bearing |31. The lever |35 is provided with a U-shaped bracket extension 38. A square rod |39 moves slidably in the opening |49 provided for it in the bracket arm |35 and is held in position shown in Figs. 4 and 8 by means of the tension of the spiral spring I4I.

The rod |33 `terminates with a tapered section |395.

The upper section of the lever |35 isconnected tothe lifting rod |42 which is secured at the pivot bearing |3511. The lifting rod aforesaid is pivotally connected with the lifting arm 39. The cylinder 91 is mounted inside cf the delivery tank shell I9, (Fig. l) being secured to the supporting cross member l2 by means of the staples |43. A compressedair cylinder i413 is mounted in position between the delivery pipe 23 and the cylinder 91. The function of the cylinder aforesaid will be hereinafter described.

The gasoline ilow indicating device as shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive is applicable for use in connection with the automatic starting delivery It Will i nozzle. which is embodied in my Patent No. 1,978,-

` on the supporting bracket 46 is provided with an insulated switch box A. A mercury switch B is In Figs. 10 and l1 the nozzle 34 which is hung main and with the motor I9.

When the mercury inside the mercury switch B is at the bottom of the switch container, the contacts K are disconnected and as a consequence the motor I9 is cut off from the electric current supply and is thus made inoperative.

When the nozzle 34 is lifted from the bracket 40 and inserted into the automobile gasoline tank F through the opening G (see Fig. 1l), the mercury C inside the switch container B by reason of gravity ows to the opposite end of the switch and in this manner closes the contacts K thereby causing an electric current to flow thus energizing the motor I9 which operates the pump 20.

In my Patent No. 1,978,753 it is stated that the mercury switch can be replaced with a gravity operating switch.

The wires leading from the nozzle to the motor I9 can be embedded inside the fabric of the delivery hose instead of being attached to the outer surface of the same in the manner shown.

The operation of the gasoline dispensing and measuring apparatus is as follows:

The indicating dials are shown in Fig. l at a zero or no delivery position. When the apparatus is in the position as stated, the tip end |45 of the dispensing nozzle 34 contacts with the lever 92, the effect of which is to hold said lever in an opposite position to that shown in Fig. 6. When the lever 92 is moved in the latter position, the lever extension 86 rides over the tapered section 85 of the shaft 83, (see Figs. 621 and 4a) and then drops to the opposite side of the shaft 83 under tension of the spring 86a-, (see Fig. 4).

When the attendant desires to hang up the delivery nozzle after the delivery of gasoline shall have been made, he inserts the tip |45 of the nozzle 34 through the opening |46 at one side of the apparatus.

At the expiration of each delivery of gasoline, and while the attendant releases the valve handle 34a and hangs the nozzle 34 to the apparatus shell stand I0, the electric motor I9 will continue to operate for a brief period.

During this brief period a portion of the gasoline that has been pumped by the pump 29 returns to the gasoline retainer by way of the safety valve 26a. Another portion of the gasoline compresses the air in the compression cylinder |44.

When the attendant proceeds to make a further delivery of gasoline, he removes the dispensing nozzle 34 from the apparatus shell stand |0. The instant the tip |45 of the nozzle leaves the lever 92, (the latter being under the influence of the spring 96) the said lever comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 6.

In this connection it will be understood that the lever extension 86, which is held to the lever 92 by means of the screws 92a brings the shaft arms 18 and 19 into the position shown in Fig. 6, and disconnects the coupling member 'I2 from the adjacent coupling member 1D which in turn disconnects the driving shaft 42 from the engaging bevel gears 66 and 69.

The driving shaft 42 vbeing disconnected from the bevel gears 66 and 69 is brought under the influence of the pressure exercised on the piston |I|l by the gasoline proper. The pressure aforesaid is caused by the accumulated air in the compression chamber of the cylinder |44. The effect of the pressure as stated is to restore the gallon reading dial 2l and the fractional gallon dials 2S and 29 to their respective zero positions by means of the gear 44 and geared rack 45 connected to the shaft |26.

The zero restoring mechanism operates rapidly, so that by the time the attendant inserts the delivery nozzle into the filler opening of the delivery tank for gasoline delivery, the dials are automatically and precisely restored to zero.

The length of the cylinder 9'! is a trifle longer than is necessary to restore the dials to the zero reading position, therefore, when the piston H5 is downto its lowest limit, the spring |21 is brought under tension, (see Fig. 8).

The attendant starts the delivery of gasoline by lifting the nozzle 34 from the hook and he then depresses the valve lever 315e of said nozzle, and, as the gasoline continues to flow out of the flexible hose 33, the air pressure inside the cylinder 9i' tends to decrease which results in the eventual return of the shaft to the position shown in Fig. 9.

During the operations just described, the tapered block |36 lifts the lever I3Sa momentarily to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 8, and said lever is then restored to its normal position as shown. The shaft |62 being connected to the lever |35 lifts the lever extension 86 and disconnects the members 81 and 88 from the end sections 65 and 85 of the said lever extension 86.

The arms I'I and 18 under the influence of the spring 12a are released from the lever extension 86, (Fig. 'alj The coupling member 'i2 comes into engagement again with the coupling a, thus restoring the connection of the dials to the measuring meter I6. The amount of gasoline lost during the foregoing described operation of lifting the lever 90 is suitably taken care of on the gasoline markings on the dial.

During the delivery period of the gasoline the measuring meter shaft 25 revolves the exible coupling 63, the shaft 26 and the beveled gear 66 respectively. This in turn rotates the bevel gear 69, the latter being rigidly connected by means of the couplings 'Iiia and 'I2 to the shaft 42, rotates the fractional gallon dials 28 and 29, likewise the gallon dial 21 through the train of gears, said train comprising gears 52, 5I, 41 and 46.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides a measuring apparatus for gasoline or the like free from mechanical actuating means to restore the recording dials to their zero or initial position; and it will also be seen that this invention is a liquid measuring and dial restoring apparatus operating through the medium of the liquid that the measuring apparatus dispenses.

Now having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus for dispensing gasoline or the like in measured quantities; a motor operated pump, a reservoir connected to said pump; a cylinder also connected to said pump; a piston in said cylinder made operative by the gasoline flow from said pump, said piston having stored pressure -means for restoring a series of registering dials back to a zero reading, said stored pressure means remaining operatively effective after the dispensing of said gasoline from the apparatus aforesaid and after the operation of said motor pump shall have been stopped.

2. In an apparatus for dispensing gasoline or the like having a housing therefor; a motor operated pump, a reservoir in connection-therewith, gasoline delivery means in connection with said reservoir, said delivery means including a flexible hose having a delivery nozzle attached thereto; driving means for operating a series of indicating dials, said driving means operable in accordance with the flow of said gasoline from the apparatus aforesaid; and means for restoring said dials to their original zero indicating positions after the delivery of gasoline shall have been made, said means comprising a coupling and a coupling operating arm for connecting and disconnecting said dials from the driving means aforesaid', said arm operated by the tip of said nozzle When said nozzle is placed in resting or non-dispensing position in the housing aforesaid.

3. In an apparatus of the class described having a housing therefor; a motor operated pump, a gasoline meter connected to said pump; a delivery hose having a nozzle attached thereto connected to said meter; a hanging hook for said nozzle included in said housing; a series of indicating dials also included in said housing, said dials operable by said meter controllable by the flow of gasoline therethrough; means for restoring said dials to a zero or initial position, said restoring means comprising an arm operating a coupling connecting the gasoline registering meter to the dials aforesaid, said arm operated by the tip of said nozzle when said nozzle is hung onto the hanging hook aforesaid. Y

4. In an apparatus for dispensing gasoline or the like having a housing therefor; means contained in said housing to cause a iio-W of gasoline which operates a series of indicating dials; said dials rotating in direct proportion to the amount of gasoline dispensed from the apparatus aforesaid; said flovv of gasoline made possible by a motor operated pump, a cylinder connected to said pump; an air compression chamber also connected to said pump; said cylinder having a piston, said piston having means for restoring said dials to their original positions, said means actuated by the pressure exercised bythe compressed air and gasoline against said piston inside said cylinder.

5. In an apparatus for dispensing gasoline or the like, said apparatus having a pump, said pump having a pressure regulating valve; means included in said apparatus for operating a set of indicating dials for indicating the amount of gasoline pumped from said apparatus, said means being operated by the flow of gasoline, said lflow due to the operation of said pump, a cylinder having a piston therein also connected to said pump, said piston having a driving shaft with a geared rack integral thereto, gearing means coupled to said rack and operable by means of said rack for resetting said indicating dials to their initial or starting positions; and means provided to cause the gasoline inside said cylinder to be maintained at constant pressure, said constant pressure caused primarily by compressed air contained inside a compression chamber that is connected to said cylinder and the flow of gasoline through the pressure regulating valve aforesaid.

6. In an apparatus of the class d-escribed'comprising a reservoir, a pump connected to said reservoir, a measuring meter having indicating dials therein, said meter connected to said pump and made operable by means of gasoline flowing through said meter from said pump; a cylinder having a piston that is also connected to said pump, said piston made operable by means of the pressure of gasoline inside said cylinder, said pressure being produced by the flow of gasoline into an air compression-chamber that is connected to said cylinder, said piston having a shaft and geared rack integral thereto, said rack in operable engagement with a train of gears that operate said indicating dials for the purpose of resetting said dials to their initial or starting positions.

COS P. LENT. 

